Pep Guardiola is embarking on his first season as a manager in English football, and his Manchester City side have made a good start to life under his stewardship.

City have won seven of their opening 11 league games, including an impressive 2-1 victory over neighbours Manchester United back in September.

However, Guardiola’s men did endure a tricky spell which saw them go six games without a win, a run which included their opening Premier League defeat thus far at Tottenham, and a 4-0 hammering away to Barcelona.

Nonetheless, City bounced back by sensationally beating Barca 3-1 at the Etihad last week, although they then couldn’t build on that result by only drawing at home to Middlesbrough last weekend.

A third successive home league draw means that Guardiola’s side sit third in the Premier League, just two points off league leaders Liverpool.

Guardiola’s arrival in England led many to believe that he would take City to the Premier League title and, based on his first few months, he could very well do that this season.

Here are THREE reasons why City can win the league this season…

Best squad

If you look down the Man City team, you could argue that it’s the strongest in the Premier League.

Although there are concerns about the full-backs, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones are solid centre-backs, and Claudio Bravo has shown in recent weeks that he might be beginning to adapt to the English game.

Although their defence is arguably lacking in comparison to the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea, it’s going forward where City are better than most.

In Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, they’ve got two of the most in-form wide men in the division, and both have produced magic in the past worthy of winning matches.

In David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, they’ve got two of the best attacking midfielders in the division, with Silva technically as good as anyone else, and Gundogan excellent at all facets of the midfield role. Creatively, there aren’t many better.

In Sergio Aguero, they’ve got arguably the best forward in the league, whose goal-scoring record in the Premier League (110 goals in 159 games) is second to none.

A decent defence and lethal attack is a devastating combination to have in the Premier League, and it could fire City to the title this season.

Know-how

Several players still on the books at the Etihad won the league with Manchester City under Manuel Pellegrini back in 2013/14, and some were there when they won their first title under Roberto Mancini in 2011/12.

And it’s this know-how which could get them over the line this season.

A few clubs near the top of the division haven’t won a title for a while, and haven’t got players in their ranks that have gone on to achieve a winner’s medal. But City have.

Right through the spine of the team, Guardiola has players who have won the title before at City. Pablo Zabaleta, Fernandinho, and Jesus Navas all played over 30 times in their title-winning campaign of 2013/14, while the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Vincent Kompany appeared regularly in both title-winning seasons.

Experience is hugely important and, given how it possibly tripped Tottenham up last season and Liverpool in 2013/14, it could decide the title again this season.

Pep factor

Guardiola has won trophies at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but many feel that taking over at Manchester City provides him with his toughest test yet.

The 45-year-old clearly believes in his own ability and philosophy, and two Champions League triumphs, three La Liga titles, and three Bundesliga titles are illustrative of one of the world’s top managers.

What should be of concern to their title rivals is that City are already third in the league, and only a few points off the top which, given that Guardiola is attempting to completely change the system and the style of play, is a great effort.

The Spaniard is learning with every day that passes about the demands of English football, and what he needs to succeed, so for City to already be in the mix, and playing well, is an ominous sign for the rest of the division.

Guardiola would absolutely love to win the title in his first season at the Etihad – a feat that would put him up there alongside many of the great managers in the game.